Business litigation cases need to have quality documentation and evidence in order to be successful. If you want to present a strong defense and help your legal team get the best settlement possible, collecting proper documentation is the best way to do so. In business disputes, courts will need evidence and paper trails when trying to determine who is at fault. Building a stronger case can be done when you keep documentation from the start.
Even if you don’t believe your business will ever be in a legal dispute, documentation of employees, financial records, and client interactions can save your company. Let’s look at some of the best types of documentation to keep on hand and how they impact your business litigation case.
Different Types Of Evidence
It is important to gather evidence and documentation, but gathering the right evidence is the only way to have a successful business litigation case. Below are some of the most important documents you can bring to the table when pursuing litigation.
Financial Records
Bank statements, invoices, and other financial data from all members of the company can be useful in business litigation. Financial records are very telling when it comes to disputes. It is often financial records that point to problems in a company, so keeping bank statements, client payments, payroll records, and a breakdown of your income can prove favorable.
Contracts
Signed contracts are important for business, so keeping them after a deal or transaction is complete may not seem obvious, but keeping them for your records is important for potential business litigation. Any formal agreement will outline what service is offered or how a situation like this will be handled. Contracts from the past are essential evidence for business litigation.
Intellectual Property
Patents, copyrights, or other documentation of intellectual property will be concrete evidence against another party if they try to steal your creative works. Filing proper paperwork for intellectual property will help keep all of your hard work safe.
Formal Complaints
Records of complaints or in-person disputes at your company can shed light on who is being truthful in a legal dispute. Prior resolutions or mediation should also be documented in order to show that your company takes problems seriously.
Establishing Factual Credibility
Documentation is the best way to build a timeline and trust in a party’s narrative. Judges or courts will not be interested in speculation, so having concrete written evidence will show your version of events in a good light. Well-documented business dealings will show clarity, honesty, and keep the focus on facts.
While business owners may claim they do everything by the book, it is more important to prove it. Contracts, documents, messages, and finances need to be put out in the open if you want to make the case harder to dispute.
Proving Intent
Intent is often the most challenging thing to prove in a business litigation case. Intent, especially in fraud, misrepresentation, or breach of contract cases, is important for the courts to determine who to provide a settlement to. Honest mistakes or misrepresentations can be hard to see in basic arguments. Even when a party denies wrongdoing, documents will be able to show inconsistencies and the true character of a person. Showing consistent behaviors and communication is essential when presenting documentation in a business litigation.
Persuading The Courts
Strong documentation can deter baseless claims or lies from clouding the judgment of jurors or a judge. Evidence of any kind should be given to your legal team with plenty of notice in order for them to build a case against those who are pointing the finger at you. Even if you think something may not be important, it should be given to your legal team to keep everything about your company out in the open.
Documents will be presented and dissected by both legal teams to show the many different sides of the story. Persuading the courts can be much easier when you have documentation of every single process your business conducts.
Legal Experts At WW Partners
WW Partners is Utah’s top choice for business litigation, intellectual property law, and contract disputes. Our legal team has years of experience working on complex legal cases with a client-focused approach. Our lawyers have detailed knowledge of a variety of issues so that you can feel confident about the final outcome of your legal case. Let our lawyers tackle your legal challenges with confidence. Schedule a consultation with us to get started.